Yates: For The Fans

Mark Yates thanks the fans making the long journey to Hartlepool and is urging his player to perform for them.

Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates speaking to www.ctfc.com ahead of the trip to Hartlepool:

"First of all I want to say well done and thank you to the fans that are making the journey this weekend. It is a trek but it is a good football place and we have done alright on the coach this year at places like Fleetwood, Southend, Morecambe and hopefully we can put in a performance that repays the fans and gives them something to shout about.

"It's a game between two decent teams and they have been exceptional at home but we have got to go there and perform like we did for 45 minutes against Scunthorpe and for the majority of the Wimbledon game. There has been pleasing aspects to our game but obviously over the last few games we have not picked up the points we wanted and needed. It's important we go for three points on Saturday like we always do.

"My job is to motivate the players and to get them going but confidence comes from winning games and unfortunately we haven't done enough of that this year. We have been a lot better over the last couple of months, apart from the last few results and we just need to make sure we are positive, bright and lively. That is what we will do today in training because we are at our best when we are lively and when we are on the front foot. We will be ready for the game on Saturday and it's a good game for us.

"You can practice and set scenarios in training to help stop leaking goals like we have done but ultimately it is very different on a matchday because of the crowd, the atmosphere and eleven players trying to make things happen against you. We have let far too many points go from winning positions and it is something that we need to address now but also in the future as well. We are disappointed with the return when leading games.

"Hartlepool are a good footballing side and they have some good youngsters in the team and a lot of experience at the back with Marlon Harewood and Andy Monkhouse in particular. They play decent football but we can as well and hopefully we'll go up there and give them a good game. We should have nearly everyone fit and available so hopefully we can go up there, prepare properly and give our fans something to cheer about."

The Robins are 21/10 to win the game this weekend with Jermaine McGlashan 8/1 to score first. Have a flutter with Sky Bet this weekend and sign up using our specific URL (www.skybet.com/cheltenham) and you can earn the club £10 as well as pick up at FREE matched bet of up to £30 yourself.